Bridgeport PD Crisis Worker Charged With Threatening, Restraint: PD

BRANFORD, CT — The man Bridgeport police hired to be its Crisis Intervention Team Social Worker Program, Denzel Hunter, was arrested by Branford police July 2 and is accused of threatening and restraining a person, police said.

Hunter, 30, of Branford, was charged with second-degree threatening/physical threat, second-degree unlawful restraint and disorderly conduct, according to police.

Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter introduced Hunter on Facebook live in May. He said that the police department has four counselors/social workers that work as part of a crisis response team that's embedded with the police.

Porter said Hunter was named to lead, adding, that some calls for police service are, "Calls that are best handled, served, by individuals who have a specialty in dealing with people who might be in crisis."

Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim issued a statement: "Denzel Hunter has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending an investigation."

Read more about Hunter, who earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Post University and a "master’s degree with a focus in forensic psychology from Capella University," here.

Editor's note: Should Patch requests for more information on what led to the charges be answered, this post will be updated.